TranslatePulmonary Hypertension
Outpatients | Cardiology
This condition is treated in the Cardiology clinic.
Emergency Referral Criteria
If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the Emergency Department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region. Clinical judgement should always be considered in addition to these criteria.
Criteria for Emergency include:
- Acute decompensation (hypoxia or right heart failure) with pulmonary hypertension
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Statewide Referral Criteria (SRC)
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
? Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Urgent (Category 1)
- Newly diagnosed pulmonary hypertension without known heart or lung disease
- Known pulmonary hypertension with ADLs affected by dyspnoea class 3/4 (too breathless to leave the house/dress/undress or stops for breath after walking 100m)
- Known pulmonary hypertension with deteriorating functional status over 3 months
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
- Known pulmonary hypertension with deteriorating functional status over the past year
- Known pulmonary hypertension with class 1 or 2 dyspnoea
- class 1: short of breath when hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill
- class 2: walks slower than people of the same age due to breathlessness, or stops for breath when walking at own pace on level ground)
Routine (Category 3)
- Stable pulmonary hypertension for specialist opinion
Information to be included in the referral
(Referral may be returned without this)
Essential supporting information
Pathology
- Any relevant
Imaging
- Any relevant imaging (CT thorax, CTPA, V/Q scan or echo)
Investigations/other
- Nil essential
Additional information
- Details of any previous
- Cardiac disease
- Respiratory disease
- Venous thromboembolism
- Degree of functional impairment
- Known history of connective tissue disorders
- Medication history
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Cardiology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
For more information please see HealthPathways Tasmania
Additional resources
View more information on the Heart Foundation website
